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Ten-man Arsenal missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League after an entertaining 2-2 draw at Southampton.

Arsene Wenger's side were comfortably second best in the first half and were lucky to be only 1-0 down to Jose Fonte's header - the defender in action for the first time since reportedly being involved in the training-ground incident that led to the suspension of striker Daniel Pablo Osvaldo.

Leaders Arsenal hit back in style after the break, Olivier Giroud levelling matters in the 48th minute with a backheel before Santi Cazorla put Wenger's men ahead four minutes later with an angled drive.

VIEW FROM ST MARY'S

By Wayne Veysey

Arsenal can count themselves fortunate that they return to London with a point.

In monsoon conditions on the south coast, they were battered in the first half by the intensity and ferocity of the home team. But Arsene Wenger must have given his team a half-time rocket, as they were much improved after the break.

A hat-tip to Luke Shaw this evening, whose energy and class on the left flank stood out even among a plethora of outstanding red-jerseyed contributors.

That lead did not last long, however, as Adam Lallana converted Jay Rodriguez's pass for the third goal in six frantic second-half minutes.

Mathieu Flamini was shown a straight red card 10 minutes from time for a two-footed lunge on Morgan Schneiderlin, but Southampton failed to make their numerical advantage count in the final moments as Mauricio Pochettino's team remain in ninth place, unbeaten in five matches in all competitions.

The hosts made two changes from their previous Premier League outing – a 2-2 draw at Sunderland - as Maya Yoshida replaced the injured Dejan Lovren (ankle) and 18-year-old striker Sam Gallagher made his full debut in place of Rickie Lambert (hamstring) after scoring in the FA Cup win over Yeovil Town on Saturday.

For Arsenal, there was just one alteration from their last league game against Fulham, Mikel Arteta returning from a calf injury to replace Jack Wilshere.

Southampton were dominant in the early stages, Gallagher testing Wojciech Szczesny with a stinging drive in the eighth minute.

And Mauricio Pochettino's men were rewarded for their bright start by taking a deserved lead in the 21st minute, Fonte meeting Luke Shaw's deep cross at the far post and squeezing his header in between Szczesny and the upright.

Gallagher then missed a golden chance to double the advantage in the 37th minute after Nacho Monreal's clearance cannoned off Steven Davis into his path, only for the striker to poke wide of the target from six yards with the goal gaping.

For all Southampton's pressure, Arsenal almost found an equaliser a minute before the break when Artur Boruc reacted well to keep out Laurent Koscielny's close-range effort.

Whatever words of wisdom Wenger shared with his players at half-time worked a treat as Arsenal scored two goals in the opening seven minutes after the restart.

First, Giroud deftly converted Bacary Sagna's driven cross into the net before Mesut Ozil set up Cazorla, who fired into the bottom-left hand corner from the edge of the box for his fourth goal in the last three matches.

Southampton were level within two minutes, though, Lallana sweeping the ball home from Rodriguez's cutback after the latter's run down the left.

Ozil came close to giving Arsenal the lead once more in the 64th minute, Fonte deflecting the German's shot up and over the stranded Boruc onto the top of the crossbar before Monreal blasted high and wide eight minutes later.

In the final 10 minutes, Flamini saw red before Szczesny denied both Shaw and Fonte as Southampton pressed for a winner to no avail.